Combined trolley frog and line section switch



May 26, 1931. DAVIS 1,806,842

COMBINED TROLLEY FROG AND LINE SECTION SWITCH Filed April 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i May 26, 1931. K DAWS L806$842 COMBINED TROLLEY FROG AND LINE SECTION SWITCH Filed lipril 7.1950- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 51am Wilma/Mao X? wnaqo Patented May 26, 1931 "TEES r iorriee KENNETH DAVIS, OF PITTSlBURG H, PENNSYLVANIA ooMBINnnraoLLnY-rnoe AND LINE sncrroiv swrron Application filed April 7', 1930. Serial No. 442,362

The invention relates to main and branch line connecting frogs for trolley wires, particularly those used in mines, and it aims to provide an exceptionally simple and inexo pensive construction embodying novel switch means for cutting off the current flow to the branch line whenever advisable, for safety or other purpose.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention l resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description be ing accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a combined frog and switch constructed in accordance withmy invention.

' Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3' is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View on line 2 r4. of Fig. 1.

The drawings above briefly described, illustrate thepreferred form of construction and while this. construction will beherein specifically explained, it is to be understood 25 that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

The numeral 5 denotes a horizontally elongated main-line plate whose lower side is provided with the usual wheel ridges 6 and 30 7 at its end portions, the upper side of said plate 5 having alongitudinal trolley wirereceiving groove 8 and appropriate clamping means 9, 10 and 11 for securing the wire and plate together. a

Between its ends, one longitudinal edge of the plate 5 is provided with a laterally projecting portion 12 which provides a shoulder 13 facing toward oneend of said plate and at an obtuse angle to the adjacent 49 edge portion 14 of the latter. Upon its upper side, the laterally projecting plate portion 12 is provided with integral upstanding flanges 15 and 16 which are CllSpOSGCl in diverging relation as seen in Fig. 1. The

45 tapered end 17 of a horizontally elongated insulating block 18, is snugly received between the flanges 15 and 16 and is secured upon the lateral plate portion 12 by screws 19 or other desired fastening means. The

50 bar 18 projects beyond the shoulder 13 in for a purpose to appear.

diverging relation with the plate 5, and a fixed branch-line plate20 lies against the lower side of the projecting block portion, the inner end 21 of said plate 20 being obliquely disposed, spaced from and substantially' parallel with the shoulder 13.

'Plate 20 is provided-with integral upstand- Lying against the lower side of the block 18, between the shoulder 13 and the inner end 21 of the plate 20, is a movable branchline plate 28 having an oblique end 29 abutting said end 21, and an obtuse angular end 30 abutting the shoulder 13 and the plate edge 14. The lower sides of the plates 5, 28 and 20 are in the same plane, and said plates 28 and 20 are provided with abutting wheelqridges 31 and 32 respectively, and with abutting flanges 33 and 34, respectively. One edge of plate 5 is provided with a wheelguiding flange 35 abutting the flange 33 and the other-edge of said plate 5 is formed with a similar flange 36'.

The movable plate 28 is provided with an integral upwardly olilset portion 37 which projects laterally outward and is secured by lugs 42 carriedby the side wall 22 above described. The other end of the blade 39 is: provided with a handle 43 and is c0- operable with a contact clip 44 which is secured to lugs 45 carried by the flange or wall;16,above mentioned. When the plate 28 is in its normal position, as shown in the drawings, the blade 39 andclips .44: and 4:1, conduct current from .the plate 5 of the main-line to the plate 20' of the branchline, and the trolley wheel may either travel along said plate 5 or may roll from the lat ter along the plates 28 and 20 onto the branch line, receiving current during either path or". travel. However, whenever it is advisable to cut oil the current flow from the branch l .e for any reason, the blade 39 may be swung ou a idly by means of the bandle 4:3, thereby disenga ing" said blade from the clip ll: and swinging the plate 28 outwardly from engagement with the plates 5 and 20, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In the present showing, the lateral portion 37 of the )late 28, is provided with a lug l6 which may be secured to the angle bracket 27 when the switch is opened. Whenever this switch is closed, plate 28 lies solidly against the lower side of the block 18 and rigidly abuts the shoulder 13, edge l l and plate end 21 as seen in Fig. 3, the wheel ridges 31 and 32 and the flanges 33 and 3% being then in alinement to effectively guide the trolley wheel onto the branch-line.

It will be understood that wiile the clamps 9, 1G and 11 have been shown for securing the main trolley wire to the plate 5, other-provision could be made for this purpose. Similarly, although I have shown two clamping screws a7 and for sei0 curing the branch wire in the ridge 82, these parts might be connected in some other suitable way. Furthermore, attention is again invited to the fact that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor variations may be made.

I claim:

1. A combined trolley frog and line section switch comprising a horizontally elongated main-line plate having wheel ridges along the end portions of its lower side, said plate having a lateral portion at one longitudinal edge and providing a transverse shoulder facing toward one of said ends, a horizontally elongated insulating block having one of its end portions secured upon said lateral portion of said plate, said block projecting beyond said shoulder and diverging from said plate, a fixed hori zontal branch-line plate secured against the lower side of said block at the free end of the latter, the inner end of said fixed plate being spaced longitudinally of the block from said shoulder, a movable horizontal branch line plate received snugly between said shoulder and said inner end of said fixed plate and lying against the lower side of said block, said fixed and movable plates having abutting wheel ridges and abutting wheel guiding flanges, a horizontally swingable switch blade laterally spaced from said block and secured to said movable plate for outwardly moving the latter, and means for mounting said blade and co-aoting therewith in conducting current from said mainline plate to said fixed branch-line plate,

said main-line plate having wheel guiding flanges co-operable with the above-named flanges.

2. A combined trolley frog and line section switch comprising a horizontally elongated main-line plate having wheel ridges along the end portions of its lower side, said plate having a lateral portion at one longitudinal edge and providing a transverse shoulder facing toward one of said ends, said shoulder being at an obtuse angle to said one longitudinal edge of said plate, a hodzontally elongated insulating block having one of its end portions secured upon said lateral portion of said plate, said block projecting beyond said shoulder and diverging from said plate, a fixed horizontal branch-line plate secured against the lower side of said block at the free end of the latter and spaced longitudinally of said block from said shoulder, the inner end of said fixed plate being oblique and substantially parallel with said shoulder, a movable horizontal branch-line plate lying against the lower side of said block and having one oblique end abutting said inner end of said fixed plate, said movable plate having its other end of obtuse angular form and abutting said shoulder and the contiguous edge portion of said main-line plate, said fixed and movable plates having abutting wheel ridges and abutting wheel-guiding flanges, a horizontally swingable switch blade pivotally carried by said fixed plate and secured to said movable plate for moving the latter outwardly, and a contact carried by said main-line plate and oo-acting with said blade in conducting current from said mainline plate to said fixed branch-line plate, said main-line plate having wheel-guiding flanges co-operable with the above-named flanges.

3. In a switch structure, a horizontally elongated insulating block having a beveled end, a horizontal plate lying against the lower side of said block, said plate having integral upstanding longitudinal walls straddling said block and an integral undercut upstanding end wall snugly engaging said beveled. end of said block, and a fastener securing said plate, Walls and block in fixed relation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto ailiXed my signature.

KENNETH DAVIS. 

